Wind speeds could reach up to 60mph on the Suffolk coast and the worst of the dreary weather is expected to last until about 5pm, according to forecasters.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “Motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys, reduce their speed, leave greater distances between themselves and the vehicle in front and consider the likelihood that there will be standing water and floods on the roads.”

Jim Bacon, a forecaster with Weatherquest, added: “It is not going to be hugely dramatic compared to the western side of the country but we will get fairly heavy rain and blustery winds.”

What is the determining factor which causes the HA to close the Orwell Bridge?
Presumably it is wind speed (to answer my own question) but the Severn Bridge Crossings (for example), being located on the west of these islands get far more poundings than the Orwell Bridge which is almost as far east as is possible yet are rarely closed to traffic. Can anyone with superior knowledge answer the question?

Swivel68 - Last time I looked out the window, mother nature wasn't in a good mood! You can't blame that for the closure of the Bridge, conditions are very bad!
While the system in the Town is a joke, calling for an extra bypass because the bridge is shut, you've got your nickers in a twist!
The loss of life or serious injury in this is more important to prevent than worrying about another route at the cost of the taxpayer!

I think I can see the logic in the Southern Bypass as I assume they wanted to take heavy goods traffic as direct as possible to Felixstowe, but the huge cost of the Orwell Bridge and its susceptibility to closure makes one wonder if a Northern Bypass would have been better. Not much chance to have it built now at a time of austerity.